Life-saving mattress



NA PETERS, PHOTD-UTMOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON. u. C.

NIT STA'IES `ATET QFFICE.v

LOIS BAUHOEFER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LIFE-SAVING MATTRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 30,794, dated December 4, 1860.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS BAUHOEFER, of the city of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvenient in Life Preserving Mattresses for Vessels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in the arrangement and combination of an outer frame, an inner frame with a cover of network and an additional cover of oiled canvas or other equivalent waterproof material, and a packing of cork cuttings or shavings and a system of transverse and longitudinal ropes, the whole being constructed in the manner described hereafter and forming a convenient mattress adapted to the berth of a vessel as well as an available and substantial life preserver in case of accidents.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, Figure l, is a plan view of my improved life preserving mattress with part of the cover removed to show the net work. Fig. 2, a transverse section, and Fig. 3, a side view.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A is an oblong frame of sufiicient length and breadth to fit the ordinary sleeping berths of a vessel, the frame being composed of thin, light but strong slats firmly secured at the corners. IVithin the frame is placed the mattress 'B composed of cork cuttings or shavings which are confined at the ends and sides by an inner frame C, and at the top and bottom by a strongknet work L, which is wrapped entirely around the inner frame, the network being covered by oiled canvas or other equivalent waterproof material which is also wrapped around the frame. The mattress thus constructed fits snugly within the outer frame A and is confined to the latter in the following inanner. In the opposite sides of this outer frame are two holes level or thereabout with the upper surface of the mattress and in the opposite ends of the frame are two similar holes similarly situated. In the sides and ends of the frame and immediately below the above mentioned holes are others situated on a level or thereabout withthe lower surface of the mattress.

One, two, or more transverse ropes c e are passed through the holes in the sides of the outer frame A, over and under the mattress, are drawn perfectly tight and securely tied on the outside of the frame. In a simi lar manner ropes 7 f are passed through the holes in the ends of the frame and under and over the mattress, the said ropes being drawn tight and properly secured. Another rope, or ropes, 7L passes entirely around the frame and occupies a position midway between the upper and lower edge of the same, vthis rope being secured to the trans* verse and longitudinal ropes e and f at the eight points marked :n and where metal rings or hooks may be connected to the ropes.

At the four point-s m', and to the ropes which meet and are connected together at these points are attached the ropes j, each having at its outer end a float D of cork or of cork shavings inclosed in waterproof fabric, the size of these floats being such that they may be made to occupy an out of the way position beneath the mattress when the latter is placed in a berth (see Fig. 2).

It will be seen without further description that the cork mattress is efi'ectually confined in the frame A by the above described system of ropes and that the cork cuttings or shavings are retained in a compact mass by the strong net work 7L', additional security being afforded by the oiled canvas,

`or other equivalent, water proof covering which also prevents the access of water to the interior of the mattress. The outer frame, which projects above and below the mattress not only prevents the wounding of the latter when it is thrown overboard for service as a life preserver, but forms a bulwark on the latter. In addition to their service as a means of securing the cork mattress within the frame the ropes afford a ready means of seizing the apparatus as well as of attaching any number of them together and thereby forming a raft.

The floats D D have a two-fold object, first-they tend to maintain the mattress steady when in the water, and secondly, they are readily seized by those who have jumped overboard.

I am aware that cork cushions have been heretofore used as life preservers; I therebeing constructed as herein set forth for the 10 purpose speciiied.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

LOUIS BAUHOEFER.

Witnesses:

HENRY HoWsoN, CHARLES D. FREEMAN. 

